"Bronze Bruce"
"Bronze Bruce" officially known as the Special Warfare Memorial Statue is located at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command's Memorial Plaza at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Created by sculptor Donald De Lue, it was officially dedicated on November 19, 1969. It was the first memorial in the United States to honor soldiers who served in the Vietnam War and is symbolic of all Army special operations soldiers.
The 12-foot bronze statue (22 feet including pedestal) depicts a Special Forces soldier (specifically, a Sergeant First Class) in Vietnam-era jungle fatigues, holding an M16 rifle. The figure is stepping on a snake, which represents evil or tyranny.
The green beret became synonymous with the Special Forces after President John F. Kennedy's visit to Fort Bragg in 1961, where he authorized its wear as "a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction" which are the words engraved on the pedestal A time capsule within the statue's pedestal contains a bust of President Kennedy and a copy of his speech.